Current-collecting device for electric cars



(No Model.)

R. M. HUNTER.

CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

Patented Au grl2, 1890.

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NITED STATES PATENT Oriana.

RUDOLPH M. I-IUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THETHOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

CURRENT-COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 434,276, dated August12, 1890.

Application filed December 17, 1853?. Serial No. 334,048. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of thecity and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inCurrent-Collecting Devices for: Electric Cars, of which the following isa specification.

My invention has reference to current-collecting devices for electriccars; and it consists of certain improvements, all of which are fullyset out in the following specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which form part thereof.

The invention set out in this application (Case No. 124:) relates toimprovements in ourrent-collecting devices set out in Letters PatentNos. 398,402 and 400,916 granted to me.

In carrying out my invention I provide the car with anupwardly-extending current-collecting arm having a contact device at itsupper or free end and pivot said arm to the car on a transverse axis, sothat its free end may swing toward either end of the car. In connectionwith this construction I employ a bellcrank and a spring, the action ofwhich is to induce the free end of the arm to rise vertically andmaintain a contact with the under side of the conductor, which issuspended overhead, irrespective of whether the arm is trailing towardone or the other end of the car. Furthermore, the arm carrying thecontact is secured to the frame, which is hinged to the car on atransverse axis by a joint or connection arranged in the plane of travelof the car and so as to permit the contact device to swing or movelaterally to follow lateral irregularities in the conductor. \Vhen thisconnection is a hinge, springs are employed between the arm and thesupporting-frame; but when no hinge is employed the connection may bethe spring or springs themselves.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating asystem of railway employing my improvement. Fig. 2 isaside elevation ofmy improved current-collecting device. Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofsame, and Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 of a modification of myinvention.

A is the suspended or overhead conductor.

B are the rails, and C is the source of elec- 5o trical power.

D is an electrically-propelled car having the electric motor G,mechanically connected to rotate the axle to move the car.

E is the current-collecting device making a moving under contact withthe conductor A.

F is the motor-circuit leading from the conductor E to the motor G, andis provided with a-regulator or current-controlling device H. Themotor-circuit also leads from the motor to the axlesand wheels to returnthe current to the rails. It is evident that while the rails are shownas the return-conductors a separate return-conductor independent of therails may be used, and in this case thecurrent-collector would beduplicated. The current-collector extends from the car to the conductor,and makes a traveling contact upon the side of the conductor adjacent tothe car.

Referring now to the current collector shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I is aframe, which is bolted to the car,preferably at the center of its roof,and is provided with hearings it and an upright S. Pivoted between thebearings t' 1', so as to move on a transverse axis with reference to thetravel of the car, is a frame J, having a bell-crank arm K, which isconnected to one end of a spring R. The other end of the spring issecured to a screw T, passing through the upright S, and is held againstlongitudinal movement by a nut V. By adjusting the nut the spring may beput under more or less tension, as desired. Hinged to the frame J on anaxis M in the plane of the travel of the car and at right angles, orsubstantially right angles, to the transverse axis is the socket-pieceL, towhich the upwardly-exten ding arm P is secured, theupper end ofwhich is provided with a contact-Wheel Q or equivalent contact-shoe.Thelateral 9o sides of the frame J are provided with projections 0,against which springs N press. These springs N are formed of leaves,which have their lower ends secured to the frame J. By this constructionthe arm P is caused to normally assume a position in a vertical planethrough the axis M, and yet permit the free end of the arm P to be movedlaterally to follow lateral variations in the conductor A. The arm Pwhen not held down by the conductor is caused to rise and standvertically by the action of the spring R. The crankarm K is at rightangles to the red I, and hence when pulled by the spring said arm iscaused to stand vertically. When the contact-arm P is moved to anoblique position toward either end of the car, the crank-arm K is movedabove or below the line, joining the axis of the frame .I and the screwT, and the spring R is put under tension, and this tension increasesproportionately to the leverage exerted by the arm I. The action of thespring R is such that in either direction of travel of the car theupward support of the arm P is maintained. Simultaneously with thismovement of the arm I about the trans verse axis the free end of the armis at liberty to move laterally upon the hinge M against the action ofthe springs N.

IV is a cord, chain, or light red extending from the arm P near thecontact -wheel Q and reaching to the roof of the carer to Within reachof the conductor. By means of this cord, rod, or chain the operator orconductor may draw the contact-wheel away from the line-conductor inreversing the collector-arm for running the car in the oppositedirection.

In place of using the hinge M and the lateral springs shown in Fig. 3 Imay employ the central connectingrspring N, shown in Fig. 4. Both ofthese constructions I have found in practice operate admirably. In bothcases they form a connection between the frame J and rod P, permittingof lateral motion of the contact. If desired, the spring R need not beput under sufficient tension to make the arm assume a vertical positionwhen liberated from the do\vnward-restraining influence of the conductorA. In this case the arm I would stand slightly inclined when not incontact with the wire, and may by the cord, rod, or chain be thrown overto either side of the transverse axis.

I do not confine myself to the details herein shown, as they maybemodified in various ways without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. The combination of an overheadconductor, a traveling car, an upwardly-extending collector-arm having acontact device at its upper end running against the under surface of theconductor and hinged at its lower end on a transverse axis permanentlyfixed to the car, and a spring to hold said upwardly extending arm in aninclined position so as to trail backward to the movement of the ear.

2. The combination of an overhead conductor, a traveling car, anupwardly-extending collector-arm having a contact device at its upperend running against the under sur face of the conductor and hinged atits lower end on a transverse axis permanently fixed to the car, aspring to hold said upwardly-extending arm in an inclined position so asto trailbackward to the movement of the car, and means to adjust thetension of the spring.

3. The combination of a suspended eonductor, a car, an upwardly andrearwardly extending collector-arm having a contact device moving inconnection with the under part of the conductor and formed at the bottomwith a bell-crank device hinged to the car on a transverse axis, and aspring acting upon said bell-crank whereby the upwardly-extending armmay be supported in an oblique direction toward either one or the otherend of the car, as desired.

4. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, an upwardly andrearwardly extending collector-arm having a contact device moving inconnection with the under part of the conductor and formed at the bottomwith abell-crank device hinged to the car on a transverse axis, a springacting upon said bellcrank, whereby the upwardly-extending arm maybesupported in an oblique direction toward either one or the other end ofthe car, as desired, and an adjustable device for vary ing the tensionof the spring.

5. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame supportedupon the roof of the car, a bell-cranked arm hinged to the frame havingboth a short arm and a long upwardly-extending arm, the latter providedwith a contact makinga traveling connection with the underside of theconductor, a screw carried by the frame and adjustable thereon by meansof a nut, and a coil-spring arranged between the ends of the screw andthe short arm. of the bell-cranked lever.

(i. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame supportedupon the roof of the car, a bell-cranked arm hinged to the frame havingboth ashort arm and a long upwardly-extending arm provided with acontact making a traveling connection with the under side of theconductor and in which the upper end of the long arm is free to moveboth longitudinally and laterally with respect to the movement of thecar, a screw carried by the frame and adj ustable thereon by means of anut, and a coil-spring arranged between the ends of the screw and theshort arm of the bell-cranked lever.

7. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame pivoted tothe car on a transverse axis, a spring to hold the frame elasticallyagainst rotation, and an upwardlyext-ending arm connected to the framewith provision of lateral movement at its free end and provided with acontact device making a contact with the under side of the conductor.

8. The combination of a suspended conductor, a-car, a frame pivoted tothe car on a transverse axis, a spring to hold the frame elasticallyagainst rotation, an upwardly-extending arm connected to the frame by aIIO hinged joint arranged substantially at right angles to thetransverse axis, so as to make provision for lateral movement at itsfree end and provided with a contact device making contact with theunder side of the conductor, and spring device between the frame andupwardly-extending arm.

9. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame pivoted tothe car on a transverse axis, a spring to normally hold said frameelastically against rotation, and an upwardly-extending arm carried bysaid frame and provided with a contact device making an under connectionwith the suspended conductor and supported normally against lateralmovement by means of springs arranged between the frame andupwardly-extending arm.

10. The combination of a suspended conductor with a car, a frame I,secured to the car, a frame J, pivoted to the frame I on a transverseaxis and having an arm K, an upwardly-extending arm portion L P, pivotedto the frame J on an axis at right angles to the transverse axis andprovided with a contact device making an under connection with thesuspended conductor, springs ,N between the parts J L, and a spring R,connected at one end with the frame I and at the other end with the armK of the frame J.

Intestimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

Witnesses:

S. T; YERKES, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

